Electric igniter for gaseous fuel burners



Oct. 17, 1944. 5 KAUFFMAN 360,607

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS Filed March 25 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 17, 1944. s. KAUFFMAN ETAL ELECTRIC 'IGNITER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS Filed March 25) 1941 2 sheetsesheet 2 .0 0 w y z j A? K W 6. c.

Patented Oct. 17, i

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS Lester s. Kaufl'man and Bradley 0. Douglas, St. I

Louis; Mo., assignon to American Stove Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of New Jer sey Application March 25, 1941, Serial No. 385,178

20 Claims. (01. 115-115) 'I'his invention pertains to an electric igniter for inclusion in an electric ignition system for gaseous fuel burners. The present igniter is particularly well suited for use in a system utilizedfor igniting the gas burner in the oven of a gas cooking range. Its use however need not be so specifically limited and the particular system in' which it is incorporated can be widely varied.

The system might be manual or it might be fully or semi-automatic in nature. In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated the invention in combination with a fully automatic system applied to a gas cooking range for igniting the oven burner thereof.

One of the primary obiects of the invention is that of providing an igniter which is cheap and simple of manufacture yet highly emcient operation and which has a long operating life.

'Another object of the inventionis that of providing an igniter which can be quickly and readily applied "to or removed from its proper position within the system and particularly with respect to the burner which it operates to ignite.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an igniter which will operate satisfactorily on an extremely low current voltage.

A still further object'of the invention resides in the improved manner and method of constructingthe igniter and its associated supporting constructiont Other objects as well as improved results of theinvention are obtained from the provision of an igniter having the aforestated broad 'ob-- jects. and a full understanding ofthese will appear in detail from a reading of the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view through a range having applied thereto the present improved invention and illustrates the same as incorporated into a fully automatic electric ignition system forthe oven burner of said range.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the igniter and its carrier, the view being partly schematic in nature to illustrate other associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on line I3 of Fig. 1. v D

Fig, 4 is a vertical sectional view throughthe ignition coil carrier. I 1

Figs. 5 to inclusive are vertical sectional views, partly schematic in nature; illustrating modified forms of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, A is a conventional insulated gas cooking range oven adjacent to which is disposed a chamber B within which are usually disposed =the burners for the cooking top portion ,of the range. The chamber B is ordinarily referred to asthe cooking top burner chamber, but no illustration of the burners therein is given as they form no part of the present invention andillust'ration of them would complicate the clearest illustration of the parts which actually compose the present invention.

An oven burner appears ate and this burner.

I can be of varying constructions to bestmeet the particulardesired requirements. A- main gas supply pipe or conduit 1 is disposed within the front end of the cooking top-,burner chamber' behind the front panel or closure 2 thereof and a manually operable valve 3 is associated. therewithand is manually operable from the front of the range by a'suitable valve operating handle 4. This valve controls the flow of gas from the main supply pipe through a gas pipe 5, which has 7 connection with a thermostatically operated oven temperature heat control mechanism and fuel 'control valve 6. Such controls are in common use today and the nature of their constructions and mode of operation is well understood by those skilled in the art so that no specific description of it is deemed necessary further than to say that this device operates in response to the tem- 'perature within the oven A to maintain the same L at any specific degree at which the device is set. .Exteriorly of the front of the range the device is provided with a temperature setting handle and dial indicator designated-as an entirety at 1.

This oven temperature control device, as mentioned, controls the flow of fuel from the main gas supply pipe to the oven burner. A pipe 8 interconnects this oven temperature control with a safety valve designated as an entirety at D. The safety control valve can be constructed in many ways well understood by those skilled'in the art and is so constructed as to include a normally closed valve with some suitable bias which holds the valve in a closed position so as to prevent the passage ofgas from the valve through the outlet pipe 9 which delivers gas into the air and gas inlet manifold ill of the oven burneiz,

Around the safety valve D there is provided a by-pass so as to permit by-passing of a small amount of gas through the pipe II which is connected to a pilot light or burner designated as an entirety by E.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings which best illustrates its construction, it will be seen that the pilot light burner E is closely associated with the main oven burner C. This close association is provided to enable the pilot burner to act as an igniter for the main burner. The main burner in addition to having main burner ports I2 is provided with a series of chain lighter ports l3 in its side wall adjacent the pilotlight. The

pilot light is provided with a burner jet ll having a plurality of burner oriflces in its upper end at which are burned a plurality of flames ll which flames-will cause the ignition of the gas sponsive element l6 which through suitable connection, well understood by those in the art, operates when heated to open-the normally closed valve in the safety valve D and permit gas to flow through the pipe 8 to the main oven burner.

The let I of the pilot light is provided in its side wall with a burner port ii at which a flame l8 can burn and which will when burning cause tlee ignition, or operation of the pilot light flames l er and is in the formof an elongated open ended tube which is preferably, although not neces- 'sarily, disposed in a horizontal plane and extends in a direction away from the pilot burner as well as the main burner so as to put one of its ends substantially remote to both the pilot and the main burners. The end IQ of this tube is in separated relationship to the pilot burner but has its open end in substantial axial alignment with .the pilot light burner port I! so that gas issuing from said port enters the flash tube and is projected therethrough all as is well understood by those skilled in the art. It is further 'well understood by those skilled in this art that if igniting means is applied to the gas issuing from the remote openv end of. the flash tube ignition will occur and flash back through the tube to ignite the gas at the port I! and cause the burning of the flame l8 thereat.

To accomplish the aforementioned well understood flash ignition we provide at the remote open end of the tube an igniter which is in the form of a coil of wire G which coil at the proper time is brought to a temperature sufficiently high to cause the ignition of the gas within the flash tube; as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The ignition coil G is mounted upon a carrier H, the exact construction of which is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

A flash tube F is associated with the pilot burnof its center opening 20 with suitably sized and shaped passages or openings for telescopically receiving said flash tube and extensions 2| and 22. v

Although it is not absolutely necessary we have provided against accidental displacement of the carrier H from theend of the flash tube by having the flash tube ends 2| and 22 extend through and beyond the block and then bendin their outer ends upwardly and downwardly respectively as indicated at 28 and 21.

To be practical an ignition system of the present nature must operate at a low voltage and must be inexpensive. With a low voltage it is essential to avoid any voltage drop due to poor electrical contact or connection between any of the current conducting parts. To prevent voltage drops and to provide a carrier which can be constructed cheaply and can be quickly assembled, we utilize an unique construction. Before describing the construction of the carrier the electric circuit will be referred to. Thesource of current supply can constitute the ordinary electric circuit found in homes or places of business and has its inner end welded or in some like and from this conventional source of current supply current is brought to the range over the lead-in wires 28 and 29 which are connected to a transformer 30 which can be positioned at the rear of the range or any other suitable convenient point. The current supply will ordinarily be at 120 volts or thereabout and the transformer 20 will reduce this to the voltage which has been found adequate for heating the ignition' coil G to the necessary temperature to cause ignition of the. gas which flows to or over it. A leadoff 3| is taken from one side of the transformer and includes a resistor 32 and this side of the circuit is suitably grounded to the range or otherwise as at 23. The other side of the transformer has a lead-off conductor 34 which is carried to a terminal block 35 positioned on the exterior side of the oven and within the cooking top burner chamber. This terminal block is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The wire 34 is electrically connected to the binding post a on the terminal block and from thiszbinding post v a conductor 31 extends into the oven manner secured as at 38 to a metallic lug or arm K which is mounted on the carrier block if in the specific manner hereinafter to be described. This arm or lug is positioned at one side of the carrier block opening 20 while a similar-arm L is positioned at the opposite side. The ignition The carrier H might be well termed a coil mounting block and must be made of some suitable dielectric material and we have found it desirable to utilize a ceramic block. Whatever the particular material used in the composition of the block or mounting H it should have a center opening 20 the size and configuration of which should be preferably substantially the same as that of the cross sectional size and configuration of the flash tube, or at least the end of the flash tube upon which it is mounted. It is highly desirable to provide for quick and easy installation and removal of the coil mounting or carrier block H on the flash tube and this we have provided for'by extending the ends 2| and 22 of the top and bottom respectively of the flash tube beyond the ends 23 of the sidewalls 24 of the flash tube and providing the block if at the top and bottom coil extends across the opening 20 and has its ends welded or similarly secured to these oppositely positioned metallic arms as indicated at 39 and 40 respectively. A conductor 4| has its end 42 welded to the metallic arm L and is connected to the second terminal post 43 on the terminal block 35. A conductor-M leads from the terminal post 43 to an electric switch designated as an entirety at M.

This switch is normally open and has one side or one of its terminals suitably grounded as at 45. The switch functions to provide a predetermined time cycle of the closed condition of the normally open electrlccircllit which includes the ignition coil G. The switch is associated with the operating handle 4 of the manually operable fuel control valve 3. The exact construction of the switch need not begiven as it could be varied. audit in itself forms no specific part of the present invention. It is'suiiicient to state tbatwhenthevalvehandlelisoperatedtoopen ignition coil by removing it from any direct the valve 3 the electric switch is moved to a closed position to close the electric circuit and that after the circuit has remained closed for a predetermined time interval the switch will automatically operate to break the circuit which cannot again be closed without manual manipulation of the gas valve handle 4. From the foregoing description a description.

of a cycle of operation of the system should be clearly understandable. Attention is directed to the fact that so far as a cycle of operation isconcerned it will be identical in respect to the modified forms of the invention hereinafter spenism 6 and to the safety valve D through the pipe -8. A portion of the gas delivered to the safety valve reaches the burner jet of the safety pilot valve E through-the by-pass pipe II and is discharged through the burner orifices thereof with the result that gaseous fuel is projected into and through the flash tube F. Simultaneously with the opening of the gas valve 3 the electric circuit is closed through the electric switch a M and current is delivered to the ignition coil G. Withina very short time this ignition coil reaches a temperature sufficient to ignite the comtion at the burner orifices thereof and brings about the burning of the flames, l5 and I8. The

flames I! play upon and about the thermo-respon-- sive element I 6 and within avery short time interval the response of this member to they heat of these flames causes it to open the safety valve D against its bias which permits an immediateflow of gas to the main burner C through the.

pipe Send the intake manifold III of said burner.

- The fuel within theburner travels to all the burner orifices thereof including the chain lighter ports I3 and upon issuing from said ports the gas is ignited by the closely adjacent flames l5 of the pilot light burner and the .flames 46 of the chain lighter cause the ignition of the gas issuing from the main burner ports so that the flames 4'l'burn thereat. The cycle of the electric switch M is properlytimed so that shortly after the main burner has been ignited the electric circuit is automatically broken and the systern can be put through a similar cycle of operation only through again manually operating the gas valve handle 4.

The foregoing system has definite advantages.

The circuit is closed for only a very limited pewhich the coil remains in a heated condition.

Additionally the system is cheap to operate because there is no constant burning pilot light operating when, the main burner is not in operation as is the case in many systems, and which when true of course increases fuel consumption which is a material item in many localities in the .country. Absence of a constant burning pilot light is also advantageous in preventing -riod of time thus reducing the time during" contact with the flames of either the pilot "light or main burners and assuring that it is not subjected to the intense heat which exists immediately adjacent the flames burned by these .burners. This positioning of the ignition coil is of course accomplished by the-provision of the flash tube which were it not utilized would necessitate the positioning of the ignition. coil very closely adjacent the flames of either one of the burners. As the life of the ignition coil to some extent depends upon ambient temperature the separation of the ignition coil from the area closely adjacent the burners will add to the life of the coil.

Attention is also directed to the fact that this time that the exact system illustrated in the drawings and hereinbefore described does not have to be followed, or adopted. Changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. As an example, the pilot light burner could be dispensed with and the main burner directly ignited by the ignition coil in conjunction with a flash tube which would be associated with the main burner.

To further add to the life of the system it is advisable to utilize some heat resistant electric current conducting material for the wires or condoctors 31 and 4|, which are within and subjected to the high temperatures which at times prevail in the oven chamber A. Nickel or nickel chromium have been found suitable material. As for the ignition coil itself it is also highly essential that the same be composed of a material which will not quickly break down under the ambient temperatures to which it will be subjected and in this sense amaterial which is heat resistant. We have found platinum to have the desired characteristics although this of course is not the only metal which would function satisfactorily in the form of a coil.

As mentioned, the arrangement is such that the ignition coil can be quickly and easily applied to' or removed from the'flash tube and furthermore the coil, its carrier and associated parts are comparatively cheap so that in the 'eventof'their failure they can be cheaply replaced. On the score of the necessity of replacement, attention is called to the fact that to obtain approval of the American Gas Associationthe ignition coil must have a life of 25,000 cycles of operation and thattest has proven that our coil does have a life greaterthan that required for approval.

The ease of fabrication and assembly of the igniter will appe'ar'by reference specifically to g Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. The holder or carrier H cooperates to simplify the mounting or application thereon of the metallic arms ignition coil G. I

; To this end the carrier has countersunk and elevated portions. At its vertical edges the carrierfi provided with upstanding flanges 48. The opening 20 of the carrier throughout the greater portion'ofits top and side edges is provided with an upstanding flange composed of an elevated portion ,of the carrier. The elevated portion increase of kitchen temperature which it is particularly desirable to \avoid in hot climates of the country.

The arrangementalso adds to the life ofthe or lugs' K and L upon which is mounted the pression between the elevated portions 4. and III of the carrier as is likewise true ofthe interconnecting or intermediate leg portions- 53 of the arms. The result of this is thatthe arms K and L are countersunk within the carrier and fit quite snugly within their seats so that they can be sufilciently securely fastened in place by a single bolt or rivet it one of which passes through each of the arms and throiigh the carrier.

From the foregoing it will be evident that by merely disconnecting the conductors .31 and I from the terminal posts 36 and 43 a new ignition unit can be quickly and easily placed upon the flash tube. In the drawings the flash tube is illusrated as substantially square in cross sectional configuration but by tests we have proven that the shape of the flash -tube is in fact immaterial to a proper functioning of the system.

A rectangular tube is desirable in that it simplifies the construction of providing for quick detachable supporting connection between the tube hereinafter following description of Figures 5 to inclusive of the drawings. 'The coil can be disposed in a vertical plane or the coil can be disposed with its'axis in parallel to the axis of the tube rather than transverse thereofwithout impairing the operation of the system. In allinstallations however it is of course highly essential to avoid any possibility of short-circuiting of the electric current and it will be obvious that this is well provided for in the arrangement thus far described.

It is to be recognized that the igniter mustproperly function irrespective of the exact nature of fuel used for the burners. In some portions of the country natural gas is used while in others manufactured gas is employed. Natural gas has a higher ignition temperature than most other commercial gases and will under certain conditions ignite at about 1400 F. but we-have found that the temperature of the ignition coil must be used in connection with natural or manufactured gas. Upon careful examination it was found this was due to the platinum becoming a more active catalyst. As respects natural gas this catalytic action must have been caused by a break-down of the hydrocarbons in the natural gas since platinum acts as a catalyst only in the presence of free hydrogen. It is this fact that accounts for the possibility of obtaining ignition with a platinum coil with a manufactured air-gas mixture at a lower coil temperature than is required for natural air-gas mixture.

' As stated, after a few thousand cycles of operation on natural gas the amperage impressed upon the coil could be reduced to at least 2.? amperes which cause a reduction in the coil temperature from 2000. F. to approximately,

Upon examination of the coil it was further found that the surface of the wire composing the coil had been etched or eroded and this had materially increased the surface area of the wire, and we believe this fact may have helped to increase the catalytic action which resulted in the possibility of employing, after a few thousand cycles of operation, a lower amperage than was necessary when the coil was 'first put into service.

The foregoing knowledge and discoveries led us to operate the coil for from ten to twenty minutes with a current of four amperes and we then found that a coil so operated or treated would operate to cause satisfactory ignition of the airgas mixture at alower amperage current on the coil than would otherwise be required. It is believed that the higher current value caused the surface to erode more rapidly and thusspeed up the catalytic action. Accordingly by so treating the coils prior to their installation in an ignition system they will operate satisfactorily over a wider range of voltage variation and this will assure more efficient operation as satisfactory operation will occur even should the amperage across the ignition coil drop for any reason,

Hereinbefore it has been mentioned that the igniter will operate satisfactorily even though it be disposed in respect to the flash tube in a manner different from that illustrated in Figures 1 .to 4 of the drawings-and this notwithstanding thefact thatwe discovered that under some conditions the air-gas mixture or stream in the flash tube had a tendency to cool the ignition coil. The fact that this did occur led us to the conception I and production of several flash tubes provided considerably higher than the ignition point or temperature of the gas to be ignited. To provide for variables of conditions which the igniter must successfully meet we have provided for a coil temperature of approximately 2,000 1''." and to obtain this temperature the voltage impressed upon the'coil is approximately two and onequarter volts. At this voltage the current has approximately three amperes. Thevoltages and the'amperages are of course variable in accordance with the size of wire used in the coil, the nature of thematerial of which the coil is com- D Bed and the size of the coil both as to diameter and length.

We have discovered a further pecularlty in respect to the platinum wire igniter. It was found that when the igniter was first put intouse it was necessary to use three amperes of current in order to obtain ignition; but that after the same coil had been operated for a few thousand cycles the amperage could be reduced. This proved to be true irrespective of whether or not the igniter was 75 ignition coil,

with baflifng means designed to prevent this cooling of the ignition coil and also the production of flash tubes in which the ignition coil is positioned in various ways.

Having reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, designates a flash tube upon which is mounted the ignition carrier or holder H with the ignition coil G. Interiorly the'tube is provided with a pair of baille plates BI and 62 so positioned and arranged as to prevent excessive cooling of the ignition coil by the gas-air mixture delivered into the tube from' the pilot light or other burner with which the tube is associated.

Figure 6 of the drawings illustrates a further bailling arrangement. Here again the ignition carrier H and ignition coil G are mounted on the end of a flash tube 63 which interiorly is provided with a vertical baffle 64 which completely blocks oil? the interior flash tube with the exception of a small centrally positioned opening or orifice i5 forthe passage of the air-gas mixture to the posed in a horizontal plane.

Figure 7 is a still further example of protecting the ignition coil G. In this instance the flash tube 66 is provided with an exterior end wall 61 and the bottom 68 of the flash tube adiacent the end wall is cut out or away to provide an opening 69 within which is positioned the ignition coil. At its front side the opening is provided with an upstanding flange or bailie 10 which protects the ignition coil against coolcurrent. It has been found that even with an extremely small increase in normal resistance the performance of the system will be adversely afiected.

It will be obvious that an increase in resistance I in the circuit can arise from many causes such as for instance corroded contacts; variations in the length of wires constituting the circuit or loose or poor connections which can be caused by expansion and contraction which will take place during the heating and cooling of those connections which are subjected to the heat generated by the gas burner C.

We have endeavored to guard against variations in the resistance by providing welded conmotions and avoiding as many connection in the circuit as possible in the heat zone of the tube 12. In this instance the coil carrier Q is provided with a suitable insulating material or medium 13 which telescopically receives one end of the flash tube and the tubeadjacent the coil is provided with an opening 14.

Figures 9 and 10 of the drawing are illustrative of constructions in which the ignition coils are disposed with their longitudinal axes in alignment or parallelism with the longitudinal axes of the flash tubes. In Figure 9 the flash tube is designated at 16' and has a rear gas burner. Mainly however the resistance is maintained constant, or substantially s0, by the provision or the resistor 32 taken together with the fact that a voltage higher than that necessary to operate the ignition coil is used in'the c rcuit. The voltage is however still quite low and is not sufficiently strong to injure or unpleasantly affect the operator of the range should i for some reason the-circuit become short-cirwall 16 and a front wall 11. The front wall is I provided .with an opening 16 through which enters the air gas mixture which is to be ignited. The ignition coil R extends throughout the length of the flash tube but is positioned above the front end opening 16 of the tube so that it is behind the front wall ll of the tube so as to prevent theair-gas mixture from having a tendency to rapidly cool the coil. The coil is mounted on. a suitable carrier 19 which telescopesthe .tube and it is insulated therefrom by suitable insulating material 80.

In Figure 10 of the drawings the flash tube is designated at S and is of the typehaving not 7 from the flash tube of the ignition coil is not obtained and for this reason these forms 'of the invention are not considered to be as desirable as the preferred form notwithstanding the fact that they will operate satisfactorily and {with adequate'efllciency.

The resistor 62 is a very important element or feature in the present invention.v The ignition coil will reach a temperature sufllcient to ignite the gas on the extremely small voltage of one and one -quarter volts. The major normal resistance in the circuit is .the ignition coil. .the resistance of which is extremely low, namely, about three-quarter ohms. Thus the ignition system can be operated. on a low voltage low resistance circuit but it has been found highly.

desirable to eliminate fluctuation in the resistance of the circuit as an increase in the normalcuited and the operator receive an electric shock.

With a higher voltage than is required by the ignition coil and the provision of the resistor 32 the entire voltage of the circuit is present at the switch M when the switch is closed and this higher voltage will break or carry through any dirt or surface film or poor contactat the switch much more readily than would the extremely low voltage wh ch could. be utilized to operate the ignition coil were the resistor eliminated. Immediately after the switchis closed however the very low voltage exists and is impressed upon the ignition coil and the closed electric circuit.

Thus it is possible to utilize successfullv a low voltage ignition coil and a circuit normally havim an extremely low resistance.

We claim:

1. In a gas range or the like. a gas} burner and a source of fuel supply therefor, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, an

open ended flash tube adjacent and extending in a direction away from said burner but so associated with said burner as to receive gas issuing from one of the burner ports thereof, an elec-.

tric circuit, an electric resistance element in said circuit adapted to be heated when said circuit is closed, a plate constituting a'carrier for said resistance element, said carrier'being mounted exteriorly on said flash tube at a point remote to said" burner, and said resistanc element being ciated with said burner as to receive gas issuing from one of the burner ports thereof; an electric circuit, an electric resistance element in said circuit adapted to be heated when said circuit is closed said resistance element being mounted upon a carrier, said carrier being. mounted exteriorly upon said flash tube at a point remote to said burner, i said carrier having quick detachable connection with said flash tube, and said reresistance will cause a large variation in the 76 sistance element being positioned in the path of travel of the gas through said tube'and acting to 8. 'An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas biu-ner, an open ended and elongated upon a carrier having an opening adapted to telescopically receive said flash tube to provide for quick detachable connection between thecarrier and the tube, and said resistance element being positioned in the path of travel of the gas through said flash tube for causing the ignition thereof.

4. In a gas range or the like, a gas burner and a source of fuel supply-therefor, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, an

open ended flash tube adjacent and extending in a direction away from said burner but so associated with said burner as to receive gas'issuing from one of the burner ports thereof; an electric circuit, an electric resistance element in said circuit adapted'to be heated when said circuit is closed, a carrier for said resistance element having an opening therein adapted to telescopically receive that end of said flash tube which is remote to said burner to provide a quick detachable connection between the flash tube and the resistance element, and said resistance element extending transverse said carrieropening and as a consequence thereof in the pathof travel of the gas through said flash tube, whereby said gas is ignited by said resistance element.

5. In a gas range or the like, a gas burner and a source of fuel supply therefor, a valve for controllingthe flow or fuel to said burner, an open ended flash tube adjacent and extending in a direction away from said burner but so associated with said burner as to receive gas issuing from one of the burner ports-thereof, an electric circuit, an electric resistance element in said circuitv adapted to be heated when said circuit is closed, said resistance element-being positioned in the path of travel of the gas through said tube,

and said'tube being internally provided with a' baflle acting to reduce the cooling eflect of said moving gas upon said resistance element.

6. A construction such as deflned in claim 3 wherein, the ends of said tube beyondthe opening of said carrier are bent outwardly to prevent accidental detachment or. displacement of said carrier from said flashtube.

7. For use in an electricalignition system for a gaseous fuel burner having an open ended flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas.

issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote'to'said burner, an electric circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a plate constituting a carrier, and said carrier plate having an openingtherein. mounted upon the remote end of said flash tube and having its opening in registry with the open remote end of said tube,

and said resistance ignition element being mounted on said carrier and extending across said carrier opening.

9. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its otherend positioned remote to said burner, an

electric circuit, an electric resistanceignition ele- -ment in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a carrier having an opening therein of a size and configuration substantially the same as a vertical cross section of said flash tube, said carrier being telescopically'mounted on the remote end of said flash tube, and said resistance ignition element be-' ing mounted on said carrier and extending across the opening thereof and in the current oi. gas issuing from the remote" open end of said tube.

10. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote, to said burner, an electric circuit, an'electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, said tube at its remote end having extending portions from a pair of its oppositely disposed walls,

5 a carrier having an opening therein of a size flash lighter tube arranged in ignition relation- 9 ship therewith, a carrier having an opening thereinadapted to telescopically receive one end of said tube so that said carrier-opening is posiinteriorofjajidffflash tube, said carrier provided with deprsssedportions forming seats at oppotioned in communicating relationship with the 05 site sides of said carrier opening, metallic arms shaped to fit within said seats and each bein electrically connected in the electric circuit of saldsystem, means securing said arms in their across and having electrical connection with arms at d anfclectric resistance element extendopening in said holder and supsubstantially the size of said tube and telescopically receiving said extending tube ends, and said resistance ignition element extending transverse said carrier opening and in the path of gas issuing from the remote open end of said tube;

11. A construction such as defined in claim 10 wherein, the extending ends of said tube extend beyond said carrier and are bent at an angle to prevent said carrier from being accidentally displaced from the open end of the flash tube.

12. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote to said bumer, an electric'circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said 88s when said circuit is closed, a carrier having an opening therein for telescopically receiving the open remote end of said flash tube, one of the walls of said carrier at. the opposite sides of the opening therein being provided with depressions forming seats, metallic members in said seats, said resistance ignition element extending across said carrier opening and having its opposite ends welded or in similar manner secured tov said metallic members, said the opposite sides of said opening. electric" circuit having terminals remote to the heat of said burner, conductors leading from saida plate constituting a carrier, said carrier having an opening adapted to snugly telescopically receive one end of said flash tube, an electric resistance ignition element mounted on said carrier and extending transverse the opening therein, said ignition element being supported by being secured to the carrier at points thereof at opposite sides of said carrier opening and an electric circuit together with a source of current supply for said ignition element.

14. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from-a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote to said burner, an electric circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a carrier having an opening therein mounted upon the remote end of said flash tube and having its opening in registry with the open remote end of said tube, said resistance ignition element mounted on the corner and extending across said carrier opening, and a bafile positioned in said flash tube intermediate its ends and acting to reduce the speed of travel of gas through said tube and over said resistance ignition element.

15. For use with a gaseous fuel receiving and conducting flash tube, an igniter comprising a member provided with an opening adapted to telescopically receive an end of said flash tube, metallic arms rigidly secured to said member at opposite sides of the opening thereof, and an electric resistance element extending across the opening in said member and supported by and having electrical connection with said metallic arms at the opposite sides of said opening.

16. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote to said burner, an electric circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a carrier provided with an opening therein, said carrier opening telescopically .receiving said flash tube and positioned thereon at a point remote to said burner, said resistance ignition element being mounted on said carrier and extending transverse the carand acting to reduce the speed of travel of gas through said tube and over said resistance igniv tion element.

17. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote to said burner, an electric circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a carrier provided with an opening therein, said carrier-opening telescopically receiving said flash tube and positioned thereon at a point remote to said burner, said resistance ignition element being mounted on said carrier and extending transverse the carrier opening and the tube and in the path of travel of gas through saidtube, and a pair of baflles positioned in spaced relationship in said flash tube intermediate its ends and acting to reduce the speed of travel of gas through said tube and,over said resistance ignition element.

18. A construction as defined in claim 17 wherein, one of said bafiies extends from the top of said tube and the other of said bafiles ex tends from the bottom of said tube, and both of said bafiies extending in a direction transverse the tube but only partially thereacross. v

' 19. An electric lighter arrangement comprising a ported gas burner, an open ended and elongated flash tube having one end positioned adjacent but in separated relationship to and receiving gas issuing from a port of said burner and its other end positioned remote to said burner, an electric circuit, an electric resistance ignition element in said circuit and adapted to ignite said gas when said circuit is closed, a carrier having an opening therein, said ignition element being mounted on said carrier and extending transverse its opening, said carrier opening telescopically receiving said tube whereby the carrier is mounted upon and supported by said tube, said ignition element being in the path of travel of gas through said tube, said carrier being positioned on said tube adjacent its end which is remote to saidburner, said remote tube end having portions'bent outwardly at an angle to prevent said carrier from being accidently'displaced from the tube, and said tube bent portions being depressible to permit the carrier to be mounted upon or removed from the tube.

20. A construction as defined in claim 8 wherein, that end of the tube which extends through the carrier opening is flared outwardly to prevent accidental displacement of the carrier from the tube end, and the flared portion of said tube being depressible to permit the carrier to be mounted upon or removed from the tube.

LESTER S. KAUFFMAN. BRADLEY C. DOUGLAS. 

